Ground me
Her neat calculations had started running amok for a while now. The beautiful neat strings of numbers and equations now flashed by and ran through each other like a thick crowd of people in the only gift shop right before Christmas. And she saw every digit. She was tired, so very tired, but she couldn't escape. The numbers were everywhere. There was darkness and there were numbers, nothing else. She tried calling out for help, but in the void, no one could hear her.
"Alex! Where are you? I need you!"
She knew it was silly to ask for Alex. Alex was so far away from her. Alex was on Earth and she was not.
A whisper, right next to her, ". . . come back to us, okay? That's an order by the way. So . . . "
She turned around, tried to hear the whisper again, but there was only silence. Silence and numbers.
Another whisper, behind her, ". . . come back to us Dani. Keelah se'lai."
Faint, so faint. She could hardly make out the words. "Harder, talk harder, I can barely hear you. Scream if you have to!" She cried out.
A tiny wisp of a whisper, this time in front of her. Before she could really hear it, it was gone again. All she heard where just a few words, ". . . I consider you a friend."
"Why aren't you here for me Alex? Why did you let me go?" She whispered. "I'm tired. I'm lost. So lost!"
She tried to still herself, concentrated to hear more whispers. Tiny strands of reality piercing through the void. But the whispers stopped. She strained herself, concentrated hard but all she could hear, all she could see were numbers running through her head. Alex wasn't there and he wouldn't come. It was silent and would remain silent. She had lost her way, was in too deep.
Cold fear gripped her. She had been afraid many times in her life. Scared to death even. But all that paled to this, the realization that she was alone. Alone with her numbers, for the rest of her life. Tears started pooling in her eyes and she wondered if they were just an illusion or if tears were really trickling down her cheeks.
"I know I'm probably the last person you want to see up close and personal . . ."
A voice! And this was no whisper! She heard it, as clear as daylight! And this time she actually recognized who the voice belonged to. It filled her with dread and hope at the same time. It was Garrus Vakarian. The turian. With razor like teeth and sharp claws, stuff of nightmares.
". . . if you can hear me, just concentrate on my voice . . ."
So calm and – gentle. Almost, caring. The turian? Really? He seemed so close. So near. She turned in the direction of his voice which suddenly seemed to have a mesmerizing quality. Had his voice always sounded like this? Maybe she would have noticed if she hadn't been so busy dodging out of his way.
". . . concentrate on using your eyes. You'll find me here, looking right back at you . . ."
Was that supposed to be reassuring? Finding herself within close reach of those teeth the moment she was back to her old self again? She shuddered at the thought.
" . . . unless Wrex shouting in your ears, shattering your ear drums actually sounds appealing to you."
Those words actually made her smile. Well, most of the crew seemed to trust him and she appeared to be the only one on board the Normandy scared stiff of the guy. Just because he looked like he could rip her in half with ease, didn't necessarily mean he would actually do that. Not if he was trying so hard to guide her back. Not with such a gentle voice.
Not only could she hear it, she could feel it, reverberating deep inside her. His voice carried to the void so much clearer than Alex's. One moment she was contemplating the different qualities of his voice and the next she was staring in the most beautiful eyes she'd ever seen. They were blue like fragmented crystals or displayed ice. They held her locked in a steady gaze and suddenly she forgot how to breathe.
"Dr. Chakwas, I think she's back," Garrus called out when he saw the shock of recognition in Dani's eyes. "But damn it, she stopped breathing and her heart rate is reaching levels a human heart shouldn't even be able to!"
Before Karin could react, Dani took deep shuddering gulps of breath and pushed herself away from Garrus, hard! Whether it was the suddenness of the fact or that his previous pose had him imbalanced, her action propelled him back into the chair and he less than graciously toppled over.
With a wild and disoriented look in her eyes she crouched on the bed and scooted back. Shepard chose that exact moment of course to reappear in med bay, Joker hobbling right behind him as fast as his crutches allowed him.
"What the hell!"
"Wait, did I just limp all the way down here for nothing?"
"Great job Vakarian, you scared her into an entirely different form of crazy!"
"Don't blame me, lizard brain! Didn't see you do anything to help!"
"Everyone. OUT!" Karin's voice thundered through the room, stunning all present to silence.
Even Dani turned cautious attention to the doctor. They all scrambled for the exit. For once, Shepard felt no need to remind the good doctor of her station. When they were alone, Karin sighed as if a heavy weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
"Really, dealing with men, no matter their species, it's like dealing with little kids!" Karin smiled encouragingly at Dani. "At any rate, it's good to have you back with us. Let's check you up, okay?"
